For many years , lower participation in European elections compared to national elections in several countries was mentioned as proof of disaffection towards the EU . In 2019 participation was the highest it had been since 1994 4 . However , differences between countries is striking : the average of 50.66 % hides the disparity between a participation rate of 22.74 % in Slovakia and 88.47 % in Belgium .
This election year is another occasion for all of us to hit the streets to get others to vote and to join us to enact change . Year after year , election or not , we have to step up democracy and keep it alive by acting . JEF Europe has raised awareness about ‘ Democracy under Pressure ’ 5 every year since 2006 . The state of democracy in our own countries but also elsewhere in Europe is fundamental for the future . A democratic Russia would not have invaded Ukraine again , a democratic Belarus would not have helped Russia , a democratic Hungary would not have vetoed support for Ukraine and countless other important decisions .
People coming together can defeat the odds and reverse the course of history . As Polish people showed in 2023 , high participation can change the results of an election . 2024 , with its record number of elections worldwide , is a strong reminder of what we can lose , but also of how much progress we can make . There is hope for democracy but it requires all hands on deck .
2022 was the year of youth ; may the elections make 2024 the year of hope !
4 . Final turnout data for 2019 European elections : https :// www . europarl . europa . eu / news / en / press-room / 20191029IPR65301 / final-turnout-data-for-2019-european-elections-announced
5 . https :// jef . eu / campaign / democracy-under-pressure /
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